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RAWALPINDI: Shan Masood’s composed knock and Abdullah Shafique’s hard-fought fifty laid a solid platform for Pakistan, but South Africa clawed back with late strikes to leave the opening day of the second Test finely balanced.
At the end of day one here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan were 259-5. Saud Shakeel remained unbeaten on 42 from 105 balls while Salman Ali Agha scored 10* from 25 deliveries.
The home side continued their innings from 177-3 after the tea break, with skipper Shan Masood adding 35 more runs with Saud Shakeel.
The scorecard read 212 when the visitors got a vital breakthrough in the form of Masood. The southpaw made 87 from 176 balls, striking three sixes and two fours.
With the wicket of the set batter in the dying hours of the day, South Africa sensed an opening as Mohammad Rizwan arrived at the crease. He added another 34 runs with Shakeel before getting caught for 19 from 39 deliveries.
Consequenlty, Pakistan were reduced to 245-6 with still few overs to play. However, Salman Ali Agha and Shakeel added 13* more and survived the day to set up an intriguing second day’s play.
For South Africa, Simon Harmer and returning Keshav Maharaj were pick of the bowlers, scalping two apiece, whereas Kagiso Rabada had one to his name in the wickets column.
At tea break, Pakistan made 177-3 with skipper Shan Masood standing firm on 77 off 144 balls alongside Saud Shakeel, who was unbeaten on 6, steering Pakistan to a steady position after a productive afternoon session.
Resuming at 95-1 after lunch, Masood and Abdullah Shafique extended their second-wicket partnership, adding 111 valuable runs to keep the Proteas at bay.
Both batters brought up well-crafted fifties, Masood his 13th in Test cricket and Shafique his sixth, as the pair looked set for a big stand before South Africa found a way back.
Off-spinner Simon Harmer, who had struck earlier in the morning session, broke through once again, dismissing Shafique for 57 off 146 deliveries.
The dismissal ended what had been a resilient partnership that formed the backbone of Pakistan’s innings.
Soon after, Keshav Maharaj joined the act, removing Babar Azam for 16 off 22 balls, leaving the hosts at 167-3 in 56 overs.
Despite the quick wickets, Masood held his composure, mixing solid defence with timely aggression to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Earlier, Pakistan had opted to bat first after winning the toss. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique started confidently, negotiating the new ball well before Harmer provided the breakthrough by bowling Imam for 17 off 35 balls.
Masood’s arrival immediately shifted momentum back in Pakistan’s favour as the left-hander took the attack to South Africa’s spinners, striking three sixes and a boundary before lunch.
He and Shafique ensured Pakistan headed into the first break comfortably placed at 95-1.
Pakistan entered the match with one change from the opening Test, handing a long-awaited Test debut to 38-year-old left-arm spinner Asif Afridi, who replaced Hasan Ali.
South Africa, meanwhile, welcomed back Keshav Maharaj from injury, while Marco Jansen also returned, replacing Wiaan Mulder and Prenelan Subrayen.
It’s worth noting that Pakistan began their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign in style last week, defeating defending champions South Africa by 93 runs in Karachi to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
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